Ditching-machine



(No Model) I BSheefis-Sheet 1.

. J. D. MoANLIS.

DITGHING MACHINE.

No. 351,930. Patented my. 2, 1886'.

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DITGHING MACHINE.

N0."351,930. r v Patented Nov. 2, 1886.

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(No Model.) s Sheets Sheet 4. J. D. MGANLIS. [DITGHING MACHINE.

No. 351,930.. Patented Nov. 2, 1886 II I 5 Q NLN IZZWESSES Attorney N. Pains PholO-Lfllwgmphen Washingto D. c.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. D. MdANLISL DITGHING MACHINE.

' Patented NOV. 2, 1886.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

J. D; MOANLIS.

DITGHING MACHINE.

N0. 35;,930. Patented Nov. 2, 1886. N v

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' Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

JAMES D. MCANLIS, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

DlTCHlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,930, dated November 2, 1886.

Application filed February 27, 1886. Serial No. 193,491. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES D; MoANLIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full,

6 clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompany ing drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of ditching-machines which are drawn forward to a heading by power devices extraneous to the excavating mechanism, and which elevate the earth as it is cutaway and discharge it-laterally. i

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, strong, light draft, and rapidly-cutting machine of this class, which may be readily adjusted to out different depths.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of devices, which may be readily understood fronrthe following particular description, in connection with the 1 accompanyingdrawings, and which will be definitely pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved ditching machine as it appears at work in connection with the mechant ism for drawing it forward. Fig.2 isanensleddetached. Fig. 10 isa perspective view machine.

in detail of a portion of the frame-work of the Fig. 11 is a top view of the power mechanism for drawing the machine forward to its'work. Fig. 12 is a bottom view of the said power mechanism. Fig. 13 is a detail rear view of the machine. Figs. 14 and 15 are side and top views, respectively, showing modifications of :my improved ditching-machine.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, and 13, the numbers 13 14. 15 16 indicate the parts of an open-work frame, preferably made of cast-iron.

The part 16 is the main carriage-body or supporting portion of the frame. It has open work sides and a flat top plate, 17, and flat bottom plate, 18. At its forward end the part 16 is supported by a wheel, 19, mounted in hangers 20, and at its rear. end the said part .16 is supported by a wheel, 21, mounted between the legs of a staple-like straddle-piece, 22. The legs of this straddle-piece extend vertically through slots 23 in the top and bottom plates of the part 16, and snugly but freely through openings in a plate, 24, pivoted at 25 on said top plate, and provided with a handle, 26, by which it may be manipulated. A clampscrew, 27, passes through a slot, 28, in the plate 24, and takes into the top plate, 17 so that the plate 24 maybe secured in any desired position. A yoke, 29, spans the'rear part of the part 16, and through the head of this yoke passes a vertical hand-screw, 30, the downwardly-projecting tip of which bears upon the top or head of the straddle-piece 22. It will be seen that by adjusting the screw 30 the rear end of the part 16 may be raised or lowered, as desired, on the straddle-piece 22, and by adjusting the plate 21 the straddle-piece may be turned to give the wheel 21 an inclination to either side, as may be desired.

The part 15 has a flat bottom plate, 15', which rests on the top plate of part 16, and is swiveled thereupon at its forward end by a pivot, 31., Through the bottom plate of the part 15 is a curved slot, 32, upwardly through which extends a screw, 33, from the part 16, this screw. being provided with a nut, 34:, by which the part 15 may be clamped to the part 16. It will be seen that by loosening this nut the part 15 may be shifted slightly to either side, and-the nut may be then screwed down to hold the part 15 as adjusted. The purpose of the capability of this adjustment will hereinafter appear.

The part 14 is a triangular frame-work, the

side walls of which have flanges, as shown at 14', which are bolted tosimilar flanges on the part 15, this part 14 being made separately simply for convenience of construction, its office being to support directly the forwardlyprojecting part 13. This part 13 is shown particularlyin the perspective view, Fig. 10, its rear-inclined flanged edges, 13, being, bolted to similar inclined flanged edges, 14, of the part 14. The side walls of the part 13 have their forward portions connected by a short flat top plate, 35, below which, in suitable bearings, 36, a large wheel, 37, is mounted between the side walls of the part 13. At the upper portion of this part 13 are bearings 38, supporting the axle of a smaller wheel, 39, and these two wheels 37 and 39 carry the endless cutting and elevating belt 40. This belt is composed of a series of preferably rectangular frame-like links, 41, connected by pivoted side pieces, 42, thelinks being ofsuch width that these side pieces, 42, project across the edges of the wheels 37 and 39, and also extend downward on the outside of the frame 13 at each side of the short top plate, 35, so that the belt will be properly guided. The upper portion of the part 13 is slightly wider than its lower portion, as shown in Fig. 4, so that after leaving the plate 35 the belt passes between the walls of the part 13, in order that it may go around the wheel 39. Each cross-bar of the links 41 has secured to it the shank 43 of an outwardl projecting transverse cutting blade, 44, the ends of which are bent in the cutting direction, preferably as shown at 45. The diameter of the wheel 37 is such that the lower cut of the cutting-blades 44 will be on the line of travel of the wheels 19 and 21, which support the frame of the machine.

Upon one end of the shaft or axle of wheel 39,and on theoutside of the frame 13, is a gearwheel, 46, (see Fig. 3,) with which engages a somewhat larger gear-wheel, 47, carried by a shaft, 48, mounted in the bearings 48 and having on its opposite ends a double gear-wheel, 49, with which engages a beveled pinion, 50, fixed upon one end of an oblique shaft, 51, mounted in bearings 52, arranged upon one side of the frame part 13, and having its lower end connected at 53 by a universal joint with a tumbling-shaft, 54, which will be again referred to.

The number 55 indicates a draft-loop or bifurcated tongue having its legs pivoted to pins 56, projecting from the frame 13, and its forward portion provided with a bearing-wheel, 57, to travel upon the level of the earth and support the tongue in advance of the machine.

Immediately in rear of the short top plate, 35, of the frame part 13 are the laterally-projecting discharge-chutes 58, which meet at their top on a line somewhat below the plate 35 and incline downwardly and outwardly in opposite directions beyond the frame-work.

From the top of the side walls of the part 13 project standards 59, having pivoted to them forwardly-extending arms 60, between which is pivoted a wheel, 61, having radial slits 62 at such a distance apart that when the wheel hangs freely and the cutting-belt is traveling these slits 62 will take down over the cutters successively, which will thus cause the wheel to turn, and the parts of the wheel between the slits will projectinto the open links successively, so as to discharge therefrom the earth which might become packed therein. The wheel 61 is arranged in such position that itsdivisions will enter the links directly over the discharge-chutes 58.

As has been stated, the forward and rear ends of the frame-work of the machine are each supported by a single wheel, as at 19 and 21, and as such wheels are liable to travel at times in soft and yieldingearth ,Ihave deemed it proper to provide my machine with means to prevent its unduly sinking and to enable it to keep to the level on which it is intended to run. For this purpose I have arranged um der the frame a broad-bottomed sled,63, having a length about half that of the frame. From the sides of this sled stout lugs 64 project upwardlxgand have bars 65 swiveled horizontally between their upper ends. Strong screw-rods 66 and 66 extend downward through the top and bottom plates of the part 15 and through slots 67 of the top and bottom plates of the part 16. The tops of these screw-rods are provided with hand-wheels 68, and their lower ends are swiveled in the swivel bars 65 of the sled. Owing to this arrangement of the sled attachments, said sled may be raised when the earth is hard and its use is not desirable; butwhen the earth is soft and, yielding at the bottom of the ditch the sled may be lowered to the same level with the wheels and form a broad hearing, which will oppose resistance to the sinking of the machine and enable it to keep to the level upon which it is designed to travel.

If at any time during the progress of the machine it is desired to change the level of the cut, this may be accomplished by adj ust ing the screw 30. If it is desired to make the cut deeper, the said screw is to be run down, thus raising the rear end of the frame. This of course will be done gradually, and if the sled is at this time in use its rear portion should be correspondingly lowered, so as to keep its bottom on the level. If the cut is to be made shallower, the rear portion of the frame will be lowered, as desired.

Of course it is impracticable to make short turns with a machine traveling in a ditch; but the direction of the machine may be gradually changed, and it is to enable this to be done that I have provided the adjusting devices for giving lateral inclination to the wheel 21, and also for allowing the lateral shifting of the upper portion of the frame-work which turns on the pivot 31. It will be observed that the slots 67 permit the lateral shifting of the screw-rods 66 and 66, and the sled with the upperportion of the frame-work.

It will be readily seen that by the turning tumbling-shaft 54 motion will be transmitted through the oblique shaft 51, beveled pinion IIO . and load aredragged in sliding contact.

' operation of the excavating devices, I will pro- 50, beveled gear 49, shaft 48, gear-wheel47, gear-wheel 46, and wheel 39 to the belt 40, said wheel 39 being preferably provided with short stout pins 39, to engage behind the short pieces of the link and impel them forward. q The main feature of the improvement embodied in my machine lies in the small amount of friction encountered bythc belt and its load, the short top plate, 35, of the frame being the only surface in contact with which the belt Another feature of excellence consists in the light and strong construction of the frame-work in its several parts 13, 14, 15, and 16, which may be readily taken apart and put together. and either of which may be readily replaced in case of breakage. 7

Having now described the construction and ceed to describe the power -mechanism by which the machine. is applied to work.

.Referring to Figsyl and 11, number 69 indicates a platform .mounted on truck-wheels 70 and forming the carriage of thepower mechanism. Ata point near the centerof this platform, on top, is pivoted agear-wheel, 71, having-a radial bar, by which it may be turned.

Near the edge of the wheel 71 is a 'slot, 73, in

88'.,fromtheformer of-which projects a pin, 89, arranged to take into holes formed in the rear? the platform, and upwardly through this slot projects the edge of a gear-wheel, 74, which engages with the wheel 71. fixed upon a shaft, 75, mounted in bearings 76 and 76 on the under side of the" platform. (See Fig. 12.)

arranged to be operated by a shifting lever, 79, having a cord, 80, attached thereto and ex-.

tending rearwardly, so that an operator may carries atits opposite end a beveed'gear-wheel,

8*, which meshes with a corresponding beveled gear-wheel, 85, fixed upon a shaft, 86, at right angles to the shaft 83- Upon this shaft 86 is a loose sleeve,.87, having heads 88 and surface of the wheel 85. r Number 90 indicates a bifurcated shiftiugle- -ver, pivoted at 91 and having its fork 92 embracing the head 88" of the sleeve 87,while its opposite end or handle extends upward through a slot, 93,in the platform, so that it may be manipulated from above. On the upper side of the platform, at one edge of the slot, is a ratchet-plate, 94, to engage the shifting-lever and hold it as adjusted. To the sleeve87 is attached one end of a cable, 95," the other end of which is to be attached to a stake, 96, or other fixed support at a suitable distance in advance of the machine. The forward axle, 97,

of the platform; or carriage is pivoted at 98,.

and has a forwardly-projecting tongue, 99, pro- This wheel 74 is This shaft also carries a fixed clutch-piece, 77, and sliding clutch-piece, 78,

machine after it.

vided with guide-loops 100 100, through which the cable 95 passes.

Thewheel 71 may be turned by any suitable power-Pas, for instance, a horse or team may be hitched thereto and travel around the platform; or any suitable motor may be mounted on the platform for turning the wheel or the platform may have extension side pieces, as shown at dotted lines at 101, and supported by wheels, as at 102, to make the platform large enough for a horse to travel upon it for turning the wheel. 1

I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate any particular devices for turning the wheel further than the lever 72, by which it may be turned by hand, as any other devices may be readily adopted, and require no invention for their application.

In starting the machine to work, the parts will be arranged as shown in Fig. 1, platform 69 on its trucks being in advance of the ditching-machine,and having its rearend connected with the tongue or draft loop 55 by a rod, 103, and an interposed stout spiral spring, 104. The tumbling-shaft 54 is connected with the shaft of the carriage, and the cable 95 is led forward to a suitabledistance in a direction to which the ditch is to be run, and the rear end of the frame of the ditching-machine is to be slightly raised, so that the cutters of the belt will'impinge against the earth. The handle 90 ofthe shiftingbar is to be moved to lock the sleeve 87 to the shaft 86 by causing the pin 89 to enter one of the holes in the wheel 85, and the cord is to beleft slack, so that the spring 79 will operate upon the lever 79 to force the sliding clutch-piece 78 into contact with the fix'edclutch-piece 77. The. wheel 71 now being turned in the direction'of the arrow, motion will be transmitted therefrom through the wheel 7; and shaft 75 to the tumbling-shaft 54, and through this shaft theparts of the ditching machine in the rear will be. operated, as heretofore described, the inclination of the framework-causing the belt to dig downinto the earth.. At the same time motion will be transmitted from the shaft 75 through the wheels 81 and 82, shaft 83, beveled gears 84 and to shaft 86 and to sleeve 87, so that thecable will be gradua ly-wound up and the platform 69 drawn forward, drawing the ditchingtion, and the ditch may theu'be dug as far as desired by successively windingup the cable and advancing the stake to new positions and stretching the cable thereto. As the cutters cut away the earth,it is supported in the links by coming in contact with the periphery of the wheel 37, and is hauled up along the top Owing to the forward pull plate, 35, to the chutes 58, where it falls out of thelinks onto said chutes,and is discharged on both sides of the ditch, the wheels 61 facilitating the discharge, should the earth show a tendency to become packed in the links.

Vhile I have described the operation of commencing the ditch by the machine itself, it may,in some localities and under some conditions, be well to dig the initial portion of the ditch by hand a sufficient length to place the machine therein on the level at which it is to be'worked.

In the modification of my improved ditching-machine, Figs. 14 and 15, I employ two bearing-wheels, 111, to support the tongue 110, which is pivoted at one end of the frame at 110. At aproper distance from the pivots arej ournaledpulleys 112, over which chains 113 run. The ends of these chains are fixed to the bottom sides of the frame 16, the other ends to ashaft, 114, provided with ratchets 115,which engage with pawls 116, and is operated by cranks 117. These devices, as will be seen, are for raising the front of the machine over obstacles and out of the ditch. I also show in Fig. 14 a modification of a sled,to which I only employ one screw-rod, 66. This sled has extensions 64 pivoted to the sides of wheel 19.

Having now fully described my invention and explained the manner of using the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction of parts as shown in my drawings, and heretofore particularly described, but reserve to myself the right to vary any of the said parts, or substitute others therefor, for the better carrying out of my invention without departing from the essential principles thereof.

Vhat I claim is- 1. In a ditchingmachine, the combination, with a laterally-adjustable pivoted supporting-frame, 16, mounted on wheels, of a supporting-frame section, 13, 14, and 15, pivoted at 31, carrying an endless elevator-belt, 40, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the frame mounted on wheels and having the forwardly-extended portion provided with the top plate, 35, of the wheels 37 and 39, mounted between the walls of said forwardly-extended portion, the belt 40, supported by said wheels and provided with cutters, and the mechanical connections, substantially as described, for driving said belt.

3. A ditchingmachine cutting and elevating belt composed of open frame-like links 41, connected by pivoted side pieces, 42, and provided with transverse cutters 44, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the cutting and elevating belt 40, arranged as described, and having open or frame-like links, of the wheel 37, having its periphery arranged to carry and form a backing for said links, the top plate, 35, arranged above and inclined upwardly from said wheel, and one or more laterallyextending chutes or guides arranged adjacent to but below the level of the upper end of said top plate, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the open-link elevating-belt 40, 0f the wheel 61, having radial slits 62, and suspended from standardspt) by arms 60, for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with the frame 16, having the pivoted laterally-adj ustable upper portion, 13, 14, and 15, carrying the cutting and elevating belt, 40, ofthe rear supporting-wheel, 21, provided with straddle-piece 22, and ad justable to lateral inclination by plate 24, which is pivoted at 25, as described.

7. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with the frame carrying the cutting devices, and supported by forward and rear wheels, of the intermediate sled arranged to be raised or lowered at will, substantially as described.

8. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with the supporting-frame 18, 14, 15, and 16, and the cutting and elevating belt 40, wheels 37 and 39, and the extraneous-draft mechanism, as described, and the motive mechanism, as described, outside of the ditching-machine, and connected with its cutting and elevating mechanism for operating the same, as set forth.

9. The combination, with the frame mounted on wheels, and carrying the cutting and elevating belt, supported and arranged as described, of the draft-carriage connected with said frame, and provided with the windlass and cable, the motive devices for turning said Windlass, and the intermediate shafting and gearing connecting said motive devices with the driving-wheel of said cutting and elevating belt, substantially as set forth.

10. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with the supporting-frame, the tongue 110, provided with pulleys 1.12, of the shaft 114, provided with pawls and ratchet for operating chains 113, as shown and set forth, for the purpose described.

11. The combination of the sled 63, provided with screwmod 66 and bracket 64 at one end for raising and lowering, and extensions 64, pivoted to the wheel 19, arranged as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES D. MCANLIS.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. FoRBEs, JoHN B. MCKAIG. 

